Malestrom

[rteetz]

The point of the World Showcase is to show the history and culture of each country. Frozen doesn't fit that bill.

Do the three caballeros?

 

[PulsarIII]

Is there any confirmation of Maelstrom closing, being completely changed, or being turned into Frozen? Or is it possible the ride is simply being closed for refurbishment and some updating?

Being that this is the Rumors Board I’m going with... the movie at the end is getting updated.

G’day
I I I

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Do the three caballeros?

To be fair, Ponchito is supposed to be from Mexico. Jose is supposed to be from Brazil so that doesn't really fit in Mexico, except that The Three Caballeros movie does have most of its segments taking place in Mexico and all take place in actual countries in Latin America. Arendelle isn't an actual place, so I would argue that turning Maelstrom into a Frozen ride rather than one about Norway is different than including Jose, Ponchito, and Donald in a ride that has them incorporated in scenes that are taken from Mexico. Now if they decide to have Anna and Elsa travel to Norway and are learning about the culture there, that's another story. Personally, though, I really enjoy Maelstrom and don't understand changing it. El Rio de Tiempo was extremely unpopular so I can understand why they decided to change it. Maelstrom is quite popular as is. Why mess with a good thing? Personally, I think bringing Anna and Elsa to Akershus to be the hostesses there is a better idea. But, no one at Disney asked me.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

To be fair, Ponchito is supposed to be from Mexico. Jose is supposed to be from Brazil so that doesn't really fit in Mexico, except that The Three Caballeros movie does have most of its segments taking place in Mexico and all take place in actual countries in Latin America. Arendelle isn't an actual place, so I would argue that turning Maelstrom into a Frozen ride rather than one about Norway is different than including Jose, Ponchito, and Donald in a ride that has them incorporated in scenes that are taken from Mexico. Now if they decide to have Anna and Elsa travel to Norway and are learning about the culture there, that's another story. Personally, though, I really enjoy Maelstrom and don't understand changing it. El Rio de Tiempo was extremely unpopular so I can understand why they decided to change it. Maelstrom is quite popular as is. Why mess with a good thing? Personally, I think bringing Anna and Elsa to Akershus to be the hostesses there is a better idea. But, no one at Disney asked me.

Not to mention they actually filmed in Mexico
Whoever said they're updating the film seems the most realistic answer here. I actually stayed and watched it once and it's not bad but compared to elsewise in the park I rather go out and about. Maybe also with Maelstrom getting a lot more riders recently with Anna and Elsa it maybe getting some extra TLC to the care of the fantasyland dark rides since now it has the ridership

 

[rteetz]

To be fair, Ponchito is supposed to be from Mexico. Jose is supposed to be from Brazil so that doesn't really fit in Mexico, except that The Three Caballeros movie does have most of its segments taking place in Mexico and all take place in actual countries in Latin America. Arendelle isn't an actual place, so I would argue that turning Maelstrom into a Frozen ride rather than one about Norway is different than including Jose, Ponchito, and Donald in a ride that has them incorporated in scenes that are taken from Mexico. Now if they decide to have Anna and Elsa travel to Norway and are learning about the culture there, that's another story. Personally, though, I really enjoy Maelstrom and don't understand changing it. El Rio de Tiempo was extremely unpopular so I can understand why they decided to change it. Maelstrom is quite popular as is. Why mess with a good thing? Personally, I think bringing Anna and Elsa to Akershus to be the hostesses there is a better idea. But, no one at Disney asked me.

Who knows maybe they will just add Anna and Elsa and Olaf and they will talk about Norway. I was just posing the question about the Three Caballeros as they are not part of Mexico really. Its just rumors we don't know what will happen for sure. With todays Disney they don't make the greatest decisions always.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I don't understand why people don't see the connection between Frozen and Norway. Disney made it very clear from before the movie was released that the movie was in a fictional land but clearly based on Norway. The based the architecture, costumes, and even the ice cutters, on Norwegian culture. It is obvious to see when you watch the movie and this was publically stated. Disney even partnered with Norway tourism prior to release. There have been articles everywhere about the connection between Frozen and Norway, and articles about the increased tourism to Norway because of the movie!!

While it would be inappropriate to make a Frozen ride in place of Maelstrom, updating the ride and adding Frozen elements makes perfect sense! It would be good for Norway.

They could even as part of an exhibit, or in the ride, explain how Frozen connects to the culture and history of Norway. A win-win. As long as they don't overdo it.

 

[Josh Hendy]

I don't object to the 3 Caballeros being in the Mexico ride, as much as to their presence on video screens. It's too reminiscent of sitting at home watching TV. The firework effects at the end of the ride are also pretty lame and underwhelming as a ride climax, especially when so many genuine, OVERwhelming fireworks shows can be seen in WDW.

If Frozen can be added tastefully to Norway's ride that's OK, if it helps illuminate Norway as a country or if it helps to bring out traditional Norwegian culture. But I really hope that the technology used for the makeover is not mundane or underwhelming. If it's audioanimatronics they had better be state-of-the-art. If video or projections are used they had better be 3D, 4D, or those cool, real-looking see-through projections like in Hogwarts castle queue. Or how about something even newer, more original and previously unseen and unimagined? That's kind of what imagineers are paid for!

 

[rteetz]

I don't object to the 3 Caballeros being in the Mexico ride, as much as to their presence on video screens. It's too reminiscent of sitting at home watching TV. The firework effects at the end of the ride are also pretty lame and underwhelming as a ride climax, especially when so many genuine, OVERwhelming fireworks shows can be seen in WDW. If Frozen can be added tastefully to Norway's ride that's OK, if it helps illuminate Norway as a country or if it helps to bring out traditional Norwegian culture. But I really hope that the technology used for the makeover is not mundane or underwhelming. If it's audioanimatronics they had better be state-of-the-art. If video or projections are used they had better be 3D, 4D, or those cool, real-looking see-through projections like in Hogwarts castle queue. Or how about something even newer, more original and previously unseen and unimagined? That's kind of what imagineers are paid for!

Imagineers aren't the problem it's the execs who don't give imagineers enough money to do really great things. Execs want to take short cuts.

 

[carmelhp]

I don't understand devoting a sizable portion of the World Showcase to a country with a population the size of Alabama. Convert the section to India and maybe we'll get some good curry.

 

[iScrap]

Here's a "coincidental", limited-availability T-shirt now on the Disney Store. Get them while you can folks...and get to Maelstrom while you can, before it's gone as we know it.

http://www.disneystore.com/maelstrom-tee-for-adults-epcot-limited-availability/mp/1363899/1000228/

Thank you for posting this. I was able to get one for DH.

 

[jcnewton]

Thank you for posting this. I was able to get one for DH.

No problem! I just noticed that today (8/7) is the last day to buy this shirt, so 4 days....that's VERY limited availability!

 

[Andrew015]

I don't understand devoting a sizable portion of the World Showcase to a country with a population the size of Alabama. Convert the section to India and maybe we'll get some good curry.

Rather than Fast Pass, the India pavilion will be based on the Caste System with Guests staying in Deluxe resorts getting their curry served first, and the lowly Value resort guests getting the leftover scraps.

Kidding aside, population alone isn't a good enough reason for a country to make the cut in WS. Norway is a fascinating first-world country with rich history and traditions, which the current pavilion does an excellent job of conveying to its guests. India, while a fascinating country in its own right, is probably most well known for its unyielding poverty, caste system and unequal treatment of women. I highly doubt that Disney wants to touch any of that with a 10 foot pole, nor do I think that "serving good curry" is enough of a selling point to overlook these atrocities.

Up next for debate... North Korea, Cuba and Syria

 

[Josh Hendy]

Imagineers aren't the problem it's the execs who don't give imagineers enough money to do really great things. Execs want to take short cuts.

Agreed!

 

[Andrew015]

I don't understand why people don't see the connection between Frozen and Norway.

It's not that I don't see a connection between the two. That much is undeniable. What I question more is the "fit", and struggle with how this can be properly done without ruining the existing ride.

While it would be inappropriate to make a Frozen ride in place of Maelstrom, updating the ride and adding Frozen elements makes perfect sense! It would be good for Norway.

"Adding Frozen elements" into the existing ride is where things get dicey, as this quite a difficult thing to do "well". In my opinion, sprinkling in bits and pieces of Frozen into the existing Malestrom ride seems like a difficult marriage to accomplish successfully. Just because Frozen is based on Norwegian scenery doesn't necessarily mean that it has a place within the existing ride. To me, there has to be more substance than that alone to justify the project.

I understand Disney's desire to capitalize on this record-breaking box office hit, but in my opinion, it has a better fit in New Fantasyland than it does in the Norway pavilion of WS. New Fantasyland, to me, is underwhelming. With the exception of the Seven Dwarfs coaster, there isn't anything within the new land that gets me clamoring to visit. As far as I'm concerned, they could level Barnstormer and dedicate that area to building a stand-alone Frozen attraction.

I only see disaster with the thought of integrating Frozen into Malestrom. If they destroy Malestrom for the sole purpose of "pimping out" their latest and greatest animated kids movie on a whim, I can't tell you how big of a disappointment that will be. One of the many allures of World Showcase (to me, anyways) is that it is geared more towards adults rather than children (not to say that it isn't "child-friendly", because it is). Rather, the intent of WS is to "showcase" the history and cultures of the various countries represented. Find somewhere else to pimp out the latest and greatest animated kids movie, please.

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Up next for debate... North Korea, Cuba and Syria

Is it bad I kind of want a North Korea pavilion? Just to see how it turns out?

 

[jhaig]

I don't understand why people don't see the connection between Frozen and Norway. Disney made it very clear from before the movie was released that the movie was in a fictional land but clearly based on Norway. The based the architecture, costumes, and even the ice cutters, on Norwegian culture. It is obvious to see when you watch the movie and this was publically stated. Disney even partnered with Norway tourism prior to release. There have been articles everywhere about the connection between Frozen and Norway, and articles about the increased tourism to Norway because of the movie!!

While it would be inappropriate to make a Frozen ride in place of Maelstrom, updating the ride and adding Frozen elements makes perfect sense! It would be good for Norway.

They could even as part of an exhibit, or in the ride, explain how Frozen connects to the culture and history of Norway. A win-win. As long as they don't overdo it.

Weird that Disney and Norway tourism can join forces, but when Disney asked Norway for cash to spice up their pavilion, nothing.

 

[sbmorasch]

it will not be a frozen ride. Disney has said no already. they might still be thinking about it but as of now it will not be a ride. it might be under referbs or when you where doing your fast passes the app might have been screwed up

 

[rteetz]

it will not be a frozen ride. Disney has said no already. they might still be thinking about it but as of now it will not be a ride. it might be under referbs or when you where doing your fast passes the app might have been screwed up

Where has Disney said no? Do you have a source or link to back this up because I know of several insiders with good back grounds that say its happening.

 

[carmelhp]

Rather than Fast Pass, the India pavilion will be based on the Caste System with Guests staying in Deluxe resorts getting their curry served first, and the lowly Value resort guests getting the leftover scraps.

Kidding aside, population alone isn't a good enough reason for a country to make the cut in WS. Norway is a fascinating first-world country with rich history and traditions, which the current pavilion does an excellent job of conveying to its guests. India, while a fascinating country in its own right, is probably most well known for its unyielding poverty, caste system and unequal treatment of women. I highly doubt that Disney wants to touch any of that with a 10 foot pole, nor do I think that "serving good curry" is enough of a selling point to overlook these atrocities.

Up next for debate... North Korea, Cuba and Syria

And China is a paragon of virtue and enlightenment, and Germany has no sordid history to speak of?

 

[pigletgirl]

And China is a paragon of virtue and enlightenment, and Germany has no sordid history to speak of?

You forgot about WWII and the Holocaust. I don't think Disney wants to incorporate that into the parks.